Individual pocket-size ventilating appliance



Oct. 27, 1959 c, wH 2,910,225

INDIVIDUAL POCKET-SIZE VENTILATING APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 2, 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct. 27, 1959 H. c. WHlTLlNG 2,910,225

INDIVIDUAL POCKET-SIZE VEN'IIILATING APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 2, 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Home? 6'. 'Wlzz'zh'ng ATTORNEYS Oct. 27, 1959 CwHlTLlNG 2,910,225

INDIVIDUAL POCKETSIZE VENTILATING APPLIANCE Filed Jan. 2, 1959 3Sheets-Sheet 3 4V INVENTOR Homer 6. Wlzz'ilz'ng BY MZPLQW ATTORNEYS malman POCKET-SIZE VENTILATING APPLIANCE The present invention providescertain improvements in small-sized portable blower or fan constructionsintended for pocket transportation and individual ventilation.

It will be apparent that in many circumstances-and en vironments it isdesirable for an individual to have available some means for dissipatingobjectionable environmental'contarninan'ts', such as tobacco smoke,olfactory ir- -i"i tants,-insects, or many other air-borne agencies ofan irritating and objectionable character.

The present invention provides a miniature individual ventilating meanswhich will effect dissipation of'atmospheric contaminants from manyenviroinnents, such as for example, from the interior of automobiles orother vehicles, for individual bedside ventilation or in manyother'locations where individual aeration and ventilation is desirable,Without affecting other individualsin a close proximity thereto. Theinvention provides an individual ventilating assembly which readily'isadapted to be carried in a pocket of a coat or other garment, and theassembly may be set up readily for use whenever and wherever.

individual ventilation is desired.

It has been found in practicezalso that the device of the presentinvention is highly useful as an aid to the treatment'of the common coldand other respiratory afflictions, such as asthma and hay fever throughconcentrated dissemination oftherapeutic agents for relievice Anotherobject of the invention is to so mount the motor and fan blades withrespect to the base portion of the device,- so that the airflowactivated by the blades may be directed therefrom at different anglesand directions depending upon which selected surface of the base portionof the device is used as a supporting base.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointedout in particularity in the appended claims. V

Structural details ofa desirable illustrative embodiment of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the instant'invention are shown in theaccompanying drawings,

j in which:

ing respiratory congestion in the immediate environment "of anindividual sufferer therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a miniature fan assemblyof a kind somewhat resembling a conv'entional pocket flashlight execeptfor requisite modifiparticular operating conditions, the motor rotatingcon veniently demountable fan blades which are made of a suitableplastic material, for example nylon, which material is sufficientlystifi so as to be self-sustaining, the

fan' blades being adapted to be dernounted and stored, when not in use,in an air passage provided in the compartmentized base housing member inone of which compartments the flashlight cell which is the source ofenergy, is received, and from which air passage the blades may beremoved readily and operatively mounted and assembled for desiredservice adjacent to an open forward end of the air passage through whichthe' fan blades move gentle air -currents for diffusing into thesurrounding environment. 1 p

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel lockingmeans in the base portion for retaining Fig. 1 shows a longitudinalsectional elevation of an illustrative embodiment of the structure ofthe present invention, the view illustrating essential structuraldetails thereof; p v v Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the device ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation; I

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig.2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the longitudinalcenter line of the device, the view being somewhat similar to theshowing of Fig. 4, but showing further structural details of the basemember and of the mounting of the flashlight cell and a control switchfor operating the fan-driving motor; y

Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation showing the ventilating appliance restingon end on a surface with the fan blades of the appliance directedupwardly, as for bedside ventilation, the view showing the applianceresting on a resilient cushioning end ofits outer housing, suchcushioning end protecting a polishedsurface of a supporting mediumagainst damage;

Fig. 7 is 'a view similar to Fig. 6 except that the appliance is restingon'its side with respect to the surface of its supporting medium, andwith the .fan blades directed to blow air currents in'an upwardlydirection;

Fig. Sis a view similar to Fig. 7 but with the appliance resting on itsopposite side with respect to the showing of Fig. 7, the fan'bladesbeing directed downwardlyand being in opposite direction with respect toFig. 7. I

Before proceeding with adetailed description of the present invention,it may be pointed out that the original conception thereof arose fromthe -need for a selfpowered, self-contained individual pocket-sizeventilating device which is usable in any location or environment fromwhich it is desirable to dissipate unpleasant odors originating from anysource which an individual may encounter while at work, or whiletraveling, or in any other situation, to repel insects, to replaceoxnoxious atmospheric constituents with pleasant smelling perfume,

deodorizing materials, therapeutic agents, or other vola-v material. Thepropeller or fan blade is driven by a small motor which is actuated by aconventional flashlight battery contained in a housing which provides anarrow air channel to the fan blade which channel provides a storagespace for. "the fan. blade when the ventilating device of the inventionis not in service.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the individual ventilatingdevice of thepresent invention which, as has been mentioned above, isdesigned and intended to be carried, when not in use, .in a pocket of acoat or other garment, comprises a relatively heavy and sturdy baseportion which includes an outer housing 1, composed of apliable plasticor rubber material which is open at opposite ends and which isillustrated as being preferably substantially rectilinear incross-section and which receives a multicompartmented insert 2, which iscomposed of a metal, which insert 2 is fitted into housing 1 through oneof the opposite open ends of the housing, the insert 2 being somewhatshorter in its over-all length than the housing 1, and being of outercross-sectional dimensions approximately equal to the innercross-sectional dimensions of the housing 1, so that the insert 2 may beretained in place frictionally by engagement with housing 1, as shown inFig. 4.

The insert 2 is fabricated from a single piece of moldable material suchas metal, as noted above and is divided interiorly into a plurality ofcompartments or sections, one of which defines an open-ended air channelor passage 3, enabling a free flow of air currents therethrough, asubstantially circular battery or cell receiving compartment 4, and anopen-ended base portion 5. The channel 3 is shown as having asubstantially rectilinear upper portion closed by a continuous top 6,the upper portions 7 of the sidewalls being paralled, while the lowerportions 8 converge inwardly to crimping 9 which separates the upperchannel 3 from the circular batteryreceiving section or compartment 4,the periphery of this latter being crimped as is indicated at 10 todefine the base portion 5, which is formed by folding the opposite sidesof the inert one over the other and in engagement as shown at 11 in Fig.2. A conventional flashlight cell 12 is receivable in the intermediatebatteryreceiving compartment or section 4 through the open rear endthereof.

Normally the rear end of this compartment 4 is closed by a removablelocking plate 13, which is a discal closure plate which is provided forclosing the rear end of the compartment 4 to retain the inserted batterycell 12 in place in its compartment 4, the locking plate 13 being madeof suitable metal and being releasably held in place by snap locks 14pressed against the plate 13, from the insert 2, thereby leaving in theinsert corresponding snaplock holes 15. I

The locking plate 13 has as an integral part a folded operating handle16, as is shown in Fig. 4. A screw 17 is threaded into this handle 16,the head of which screw is adjacent to the inner surface of the lockingplate, and forms a retaining member for a compressed coil spring 18,which spring bears against the bottom of the flashlight cell or battery12, and continuously urges the battery forwardly, so that the exposedcontact end 19 of the conventional center electrode will be pressed intoclose electrical contact with contact 20 of a sliding control switch 21which controls operation of the motor by actuation of sliding switchhandle 22.

The locking plate 13 is releasable from its locking position withrespect to the cell compartment 40f the insert 2 by turning the lockingplate relatively to the insert, following release of the snap lock 14,until the opposite peripheral recesses 14' in the locking plate clearthe snap lock 14. This enables the locking plate 13 to be lifted out bythe handle 16, thereby releasing the battery 12 for removal from itscompartment or section 4 in the insert 2 for replacement by a fresh cellwhenever such replacement may be required.

The control switch 21 which has been mentioned above, is mounted on twoangle members 24, each of which is secured by a rivet 26. The switch 21is secured to the angle member 24 by two sheet metal screws 25 threadedinto the angle members. The switch 21 is self contained and. providesitsown metal strip 23 between 4 the angle members. The actuation of theswitch operated between the open and closed positions.

This control switch 21 is connected electrically by a lead 29 to a motor30 which is mounted on a channel yoke 31 that extends back into the airchannel or passage 3 for substantially the entire length of the passagefor stability. This yoke 31 proiects forwardly from the housing and hasits forwardly-projecting portion bent upwardly at an angle with respectto the portion of the yoke extending into the air passage 3, as isindicated at 31', this angle of bend being approximately 25 degrees, sothat the motor 30, which is removably mounted adjacent to the free endof the yoke 31 and which is grounded to the yoke by a ground lead 32.and while also has mounted on its shaft 33. a pro eller-type fan orblower 34. this fan 34 being inclined likewise to the horizontal atsubstantiallv this same an le of 25 degrees, so that the air flowthrough the air passa e 3 may be directed selectively by the blower 34at different directions and angles with respect to the body of thedevice, depending upon which surface of the device is used as asupporting base. which surface mav be an upper surface. a lo er surface.or an end surface.

As to this fan or blower 34. it com rises op ositelyextendingpropeller-type blades 35. which preferably are com osed of a plastic,such as nylon, for example which has been stiffened so as to beself-sustaining in shape. These blades 35 are mounted adiacent to theforward open end of the restricted air passage 3. so that when the fan34 is o eratin the b ades 35 draw air through the nassage 3. and gentlvdiffuse such air into the surrounding atmosphere. Nvlon fan blades 35are pliable in nature and are desirable for use in connection with theinstant device. since such material is incapable of causing damage topersons or obiects during operation and are entirely adequate to drawgentle air currents through the passage 3 and to diffuse such air intothe surrounding environment for dis ersing smoke or other obnoxiousconstituents which may be present in such environment.

The air passage 3 also may be utilized to receive a body of absorbentmaterial. such as absorbent cotton. or the like. indicated at 40, whichmay be saturated with a volatile therapeutic agent or a perfume whichwill be evaporated by and enter the gentle air currents which are beingdrawn through the air passage 3 by the blades 35. such material beingdispersed and diffused into the ambient environment along with the airwhich is being dis ersed by the blades 35.

In addition to drawing air through air passage 3. the blades 35, whichrotate at a speed of approximately 2500 r.p.m. draw air through channels37 intermediate the housing 1 and insert 2, such channels serving asauxiliary air passages for implementing air being drawn through theprincipal air passage 3.

As has been mentioned above, the blades 35, being composed of nylon orother plastics, do not require a guard; and the motor housing may besecured to the yoke 31 by screws 39, which may be removed readily toenable convenient removal of the motor from the yoke 31 whenever it maybe found desirable to do so.

It has been mentioned above that an advantageous object of the instantinvention is to so mount the motor and fan blades with respect to thebase portion of the instant appliance so that the air flow activated bythe blades may be directed therefrom at dilferent selected {angles anddirections depending upon which selected surface of the base portion ofthe device is used as a supporting base. This feature is of particularadvantage for the use of the instant appliance as a bedside ventilator,as it is substantially entirely free from vibration, and it will remainin its selected position for indefinitely long operational time periodswithout requiring attention.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are illustrative of this circumstance. In these views,the ventilator of the instant invention is shown as resting on a support.41, which may have a polished top surface 42. The outer housing 1 ofthe ventilatoris somewhat longer t-han the insert 2, and forms a' sleevefor the latter which has an end overlap 36, and as the outer housing 1is made of a soft material such as soft rubber, or a soft leather orfabric, this end overlap 36 forms a cushion seat for the appliance whenthe latter is placed on end on surface 42, in the position shown in Fig.6, in which end position the fan blades 35 direct the air currents in anupward direction at the aforesaid angle of approximately 25 degrees tothe vertical. The interposition of cushioning end overlap 36 betweensurface 42 of support 41 and insert 2 in housing 1 obviates any tendencyof the surface 42 to become scratched or marred otherwise because of thepresence of the insert 2 thereon. Also, in the position of theventilating appliance illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the soft outerhousing 1 obviates any tendency of the ventilating device to scratch ormar polished surface 42 of supporting member 41, the illustration ofFig. 7 showing the ventilator lying on one of its sides on the surface41 so that the blades 35 will act to direct air currents at an inclinedangle of 25 degrees to the horizontal'in an upward direction, while inFig. 8 the ventilator is shown as lying on an opposite side withreference to Fig. 7, so that the blades will direct air currentsoppositely to the showing of Fig. 7, and downwardly at an angle ofapproximately 25 degrees to the horizontal. From these views, theversatility of the ventilating appliance of the instant inventionbecomes immediately apparent, it being adaptable to a multitude ofdesired usages.

The foregoing detailed description and the accompanying drawings aredirected to a preferred illustrative embodirnent of the presentinvention, structural details of which however, may be modified as maybecome suggested to one skilled in the art without departing from theinventive concept. Accordingly, it will be understood that it isintended and desired to include within the scope of this invention suchmodifications and changes as may be necessary or desired to adapt theinvention to varying conditions and uses as defined by the scope of theappended claims.

. Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby US. Letters Patent is:

1. A pocket-size individual ventilating appliance adapted to be carriedin a pocket of a coat, which comprises, in combination, a housing, aninsert member in the housing defining an air passage, a compartment forreceiving a flash-light dry cell, anda base section, a flash-light cellin the compartment, a yoke extending into the air passage, the said airpassage being open at opposite ends, there being an open forward and anopen rear end, a motor mounted on forward portion of the yoke, a controlswitch mounted on the insert member, electric leads connecting the motorto the switch and to the yoke, and plastic propeller-typefan bladesmounted on the motor adjacent to the forward open end of the air passagefor drawing air currents through the passage and diffusing the currentsinto surrounding air closely adjacent to an individual user of theappliance.

2. A portable pocket-size individual ventilating appliance adapted to becarried in a pocket of a coat, which comprises, in combination, ahousing, an insert member in the housing having an open forward end andan open rear end, and defining a restricted air passage, a compartmentfor receiving a flash-light dry cell, and a base section, the housinghaving an open front end and an open rear end corresponding to the openends of the insert member, a flashlight cell in the said compartment, arotatable locking plate for retaining the cell in the compartment,releasable locking means on the insert engaging the locking plate, thelocking plate having diametrically opposed recesses adapted to clear thelocking means responsively to rotation of the locking plate for enablingremoval of 'the locking plate for removal and replacement of theflashlight cell, a yoke extending into the air passage, a' controlswitch mounted on the forward end of the insert member, a motor on theyoke electrically conne ted to the switch and to the yoke, plasticpropellertype fan blades mounted on the motorfor drawing Fair throughthe air passage and disseminating the said air position on a polishedsurface for operation without likelihood of damage tothe surface.

5. The appliance of claim 2 wherein the yoke has forward positioninclined outwardly relative to the housing and the motor is mounted onthe inclined portion of the yoke. I

6. The appliance of claim 2 wherein the fan blades are composed of aplastic material.

7. The appliance of claim 5 wherein inclined portions of the yoke areoif-set at an angle of approximately 25 to the horizontal.

8. A pocket size individual ventilating appliance adapted to be carriedin a pocket of a coat, which comprises, in combination a base portiondefining a main air passage and a compartment for receiving a flashlightdry cell, the base portion having a plurality of surfaces upon anyselected one of which the base portion may rest when the appliance is inservice, a flashlight dry cell in the said compartment, a yoke extendinginto the air passage and projecting. outwardly therefrom, a 'motormounted on outwardly projecting portions of the yoke, fan bladesrotatably mounted on the motor for rotation by the motor, outwardlyprojecting portions of the yoke being bent upwardly to so mount themotor and fan blades with respect to the base portion that air currentsdrawn by the fan blades through the air passage may be directedselectively in different directions with respect to the base portiondepending upon which surface of the base portion is used'as a supportingsurface, which surface may be selectively an upper surface, a lowersurface, and an end surface, and electrical connecting means connectingthe flashlight dry cell in the base portion and the motor for actuatingthe motor, the electrical connecting means including a switch forcontrolling operation of the motor. 9. A pocket size individualventilating appliance as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base portionincludes a soft open-ended cushioning outer housing enclosing the baseportion and extending beyond an end thereof to define an end overlapwhereby the base portion is cushioned with respect to a supportingsurface independently on whatever surface of the base portion theappliance may rest when in service.

10. A pocket size individual ventilating appliance as claimed in claim 8wherein the ,base portion includes a main air passage and auxiliary airpassages, and wherein the yoke removably extends into the main airpassage, while having forward portions extending therefrom, the motorand fan blades being carried by forward extending portions of the yokeand adjacent to the air passages fordrawing air currents through thepassages and distributing such currents into surrounding environment.

11. A pocket size individual ventilating appliance as defined in claim 8wherein the air passage includes a por- (References on following page)References Cited in thefilc ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HoweJan. 22, 1918 Testin May 22, 1945 Martinez May 15, 1956 Scaroulis Oct.29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 France Sept..14, 1955

